Mobile food and beverage holder

ABSTRACT

A holder adapted to be used by a person, the holder comprising: a platform having a supporting surface, a rim around the food supporting surface, and a waist belt attached to the platform and adapted to be secured around the waist of the person. The holder also includes a lanyard to hold the tray horizontally freeing both hands while standing.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure is directed to a food and beverage holder, and, more particularly, to a mobile food and beverage holder that can be used anywhere where movement of the user is to be expected or confinement of loose articles is desired, such as by passengers in automobiles.

Currently, a food and beverage tray on the lap of a user does serve its purpose of holding food and beverage or other loose articles such as phones. If, however, the user needs to move around, the user must hold the food and beverage tray with their hands. If the user wants to use their hands, for example, a place must be found to set the food and beverage holder.

At sporting events, it is common for a participant in the stands to stand frequently. Further, the area available for placing a food or beverage item down is limited. Often, food and a beverage must be held on the participant's lap. If one desires to stand, or to move around at picnics or tailgating events, the food and beverage must be held by the participant, or placed somewhere prior to standing or moving.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a holder adapted to be used by a person, the holder comprising: a platform having a supporting surface, a rim around the food supporting surface, and a waist belt attached to the platform and adapted to be secured around the waist of the person. The holder also includes a lanyard to hold the tray horizontally freeing both hands while standing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a person carrying a holder according to this disclosure into a sporting event.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a person with the holder on their lap.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a person standing with the holder of this disclosure fastened around their waist, with the lanyard holding the holder perpendicular to the person's body.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view person with the holder in an upright position against the person's stomach.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the holder.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the holder.

Before one embodiment of the disclosure is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Use of “consisting of” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. Further, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward”, “rearward”, “left”, “right”, “upward”, “downward”, “side”, “top” and “bottom”, etc., are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

Disclosed is a holder 10 adapted to be used by a person 14. The holder 10 comprises a platform 18 having a supporting surface 22, a rim 26 around the food supporting surface 22, and a waist belt 30 that is attachable to the platform 18 and adapted to be secured around the waist of the person 14. The waist belt 30 serves to help keep the holder 10 adjacent the person in the event of movement of the person 14. Preferably, the waist belt is elastic, so it can accommodate people of different sizes, or it may be not elastic, but include the ability to be extendable by an adjuster. Further, the waist belt 30 will include a buckle 40 and length adjuster 42 so that it can be firmly wrapped around the person, and then secured to the holder.

When the holder 10 is not in use and is being carried to or from an event, such as a football game, the waist belt 30 is placed on the person's shoulder (as shown in FIG. 2) so that the holder 10 can extend along the person's side and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the person 14.

In one embodiment, the platform 18 has a cup opening 48 adjacent the supporting surface 22, and a cup holding means 52 in the cup opening 48. In one embodiment (not shown), the platform 18 is plastic, and the cup holding means is in the form of a molded in webbed base 52.

In one embodiment, a lanyard 60 is connected to the platform 18. The lanyard 60 includes a strap 64 adapted to be worn around the neck of the person. The lanyard 60 also includes a hook 68 that is adapted to be releasably connected to the platform at a nub 72 in the supporting surface 22 and an adjuster to vary the length of the lanyard to suit the person. The lanyard 60 permits the holder 10 to remain parallel to the ground when the person stands.

The holder also permits the person, when the holder is empty, to pivot the holder up and to a holder up position, as shown in FIG. 4, so the person can move around without the holder extending out away from the person. When the person is at a sporting event, for example, this allows the person to move past people and to obtain a new beverage without the need to place the holder somewhere during that process.

In one embodiment, the waist belt is attached to opposed ends of one end of the platform, and the cup opening is in the supporting surface.

Various other features of this disclosure are set forth in the following claims. 

1. A holder adapted to be used by a person, the holder comprising: a platform having a supporting surface, a rim around the food supporting surface, and a waist belt attached to the platform and adapted to be secured around the waist of the person.
 2. A holder according to claim 1 wherein the platform has a cup opening adjacent the supporting surface, and a cup holding means in the cup opening.
 3. A holder according to claim 2 wherein the cup holding means is netting.
 4. A holder according to claim 1 wherein a lanyard is connected to the platform, the lanyard being adapted to be worn around the neck of the person.
 5. A holder according to claim 4 wherein the lanyard is connected to the platform at the portion of the cup opening adjacent the person.
 6. A holder according to claim 5 wherein the cup holder includes a notch for receiving the lanyard when the holder extends along the person's stomach and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the person.
 7. A holder according to claim 1 wherein the waist belt is attached to opposed ends of one end of the platform.
 8. A holder according to claim 1 wherein the cup opening is in the supporting surface.
 9. A holder according to claim 1 wherein the waist belt is adapted to be placed on the person's shoulder so that the holder can extend along the person's side and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the person.
 10. A holder according to claim 1 wherein the waist belt is elastic. 